Cheated and Replaced: I'm Done Being Your Second Choice

In the seventh year of our relationship, my wife suddenly hooked up with a male model.

For a cheap thrill, she replaced our engagement party slideshow with bedroom photos of her and the model.

The guests whispered and pointed at the giant screen.

Yet, she just grabbed my sleeve, acting as if she were the victim.

"I don't know who pulled this prank, Ethan. But the ceremony schedule is tight, and the media is waiting. Why dont we let Julian stand on stage for you first?"

My friends nudged me, whispering that she wasn't worth it and telling me to dump her on the spot.

Instead, I squeezed her hand and nodded.

"You're right. Let's do that."

Seeing me agree, Chloe smiled with relief. She promised me that when the actual wedding came, she would definitely let me stand on stage.

But what she didn't know was...

We didn't have a future anymore.

I shoved the engagement ring into Chloes hand, ignored the whispers around us, and walked out of the banquet hall.

Chloe called my name and chased me for a few steps, but Julian quickly grabbed her arm.

"The guests are still waiting, Chloe. We can talk about this after the party."

Sitting in my car, I watched their retreating backs through the window as they walked back inside.

Right after, the colorful fireworks we ordered for the ceremony shot into the sky.

The fireworks formed the initials of their names. I laughed bitterly.

A prank? A mistake? This was clearly a "surprise" they had planned all along.

If this were the old me, I would have confronted Chloe in a rage, demanding an explanation.

But now, I was just exhausted.

My love for her had already died in all her previous "accidents."

Back at our apartment, I looked at the cozy home I had personally designed, and a bitter taste filled my mouth.

I had chased Chloe for five long years. When she finally accepted my proposal, I couldn't sleep for days. I even rented the giant billboard downtown to declare my love for her.

But last month, she suddenly suggested delaying the wedding and registering our marriage at City Hall first.

Though disappointed, I figured it didn't matter as long as we ended up together.

Looking back, she didn't fear marriage. She just didn't want to be tied to me.

I quietly finished the anniversary cake I bought for her, then crawled into bed and fell asleep.

Sometime later, I felt cold hands sliding over my chest.

Startled, I snapped my eyes open and saw Chloe sitting on the edge of the bed.

She smelled of the damp night air. Instantly awake, I pushed her away with all my strength.

She didn't expect that. She stared at me, shocked.

"Ethan, are you still mad about the party? I can explain."

"No need."

There was nothing to be mad about. I had been pathetic in this relationship for too long. Now, I just wanted to let go.

Seeing my blank face, Chloe tried to hug me again.

"I know it was an important night, and it was ruined by some irrelevant people. You must feel bad. But don't worry, I've already fired the staff responsible. Besides, many of our business partners were there today."

"You know how hard we worked to get our startup to this point. If we made a scene, all our years of effort would have gone down the drain."

Just as she finished speaking, the bedroom door pushed open.

Julian walked in casually, holding a glass of warm water.

"Chloe, it was windy on the way back. Drink some warm water so you don't catch a cold."

Chloe took the glass. She didn't seem to think it was weird at all to bring another man into our home in the middle of the night.

"You ran off without saying a word, Ethan. Julian had to help me apologize to everyone, and he even drove me home this late. Why haven't you said thank you to him?"

And whose fault was all of this? Now she wanted me to thank him?

Seeing my cold expression, Julian waved his hands politely. "Don't say that, Chloe. As your assistant, its my job to keep you safe and get you home. Its the least I could do."

Chloe smiled warmly. "I knew I made the right choice hiring you. I wish the other employees in the company were half as caring as you."

I looked away, not wanting to watch their little drama anymore.

It was no secret that Chloe favored Julian.

Julian was a college dropout who used to work as a bartender. Relying solely on his pretty face and sweet talk, Chloe had brought him into the company and made him her personal assistant.

Since he joined, he had become untouchable.

When Julian made mistakes, the team took the fall. Even when his negligence leaked a major bid and cost us millions in orders, Chloe only docked the marketing department's pay.

And I was the director of marketing.

When I tried to get justice for my team, Chloe just said coldly, "I've made my decision, Ethan. Changing it now would make me look weak to the board."

But now, I was done.

Since Julian was so sweet and perfect, they deserved to be locked together forever.

Seeing my silence, Chloe nudged my shoulder.

"I'm talking to you. What's with the attitude?"

I nodded and looked up at her blankly.

Only a dim lamp was lit in the room, casting a warm yellow glow over us, yet I felt freezing cold.

"I'm sorry. It was my fault."

My fault for sleeping in my own bed. My fault for leaving after my marriage was turned into a joke.

Chloe didn't catch the sarcasm. She smiled, satisfied.

"Since you're apologizing, I won't hold a grudge. But it's really late, and I don't feel safe having Julian drive back alone. You should drive him home."

I let out a cold laugh, got out of bed, grabbed my jacket, and walked toward the door.

When Julian tried to follow, I blocked him.

"No need. I'm leaving. The place is yours. Do whatever you want."

Chloe froze, then marched over to me, her voice rising in anger.

"What did you just say? Where do you think you're going?"

Looking at her arrogant face, I smiled faintly.

"Chloe, let's get a divorce."

Chloes eyes widened in disbelief.

"Are you insane, Ethan? Do you even hear yourself? I told you, I'll make sure nothing goes wrong at the actual wedding. Is this really worth throwing a tantrum over?"

I just stared at her quietly.

Ever since she met Julian at that lounge, she had spent countless nights with him under the guise of "business."

She even had his name tattooed near her inner thigh.

She thought I didn't know. I just chose not to rip her lies apart.

Chloe reached out to grab my hand.

"I know today was frustrating, but I'm exhausted. Stop playing games, okay?"

Without hesitation, I pulled my hand away, grabbed my car keys, and walked out.

My decisive departure said everything.

As the door slammed shut, I heard her irritated voice drift through the crack.

"So dramatic! Just watch, he'll come crawling back to me within three days!"

I shook my head.

Maybe because I had loved her so humbly for five years, she thought she owned me.

But she forgot that even the strongest love can be eroded by time and betrayal.

This time, I was truly letting go.

I checked into a hotel. The next morning, I met with a lawyer to draft the divorce papers.

When asked about asset division, I hesitated for a moment before asking, "If I can provide proof of her infidelity during our marriage, can I get her cleaned out of the company assets?"

Though we co-founded the startup, I was the one who secured all the investments and clients. Even the seed money came from my own savings.

I had every right to take what was mine.

Once the lawyer confirmed it was possible, I left the office and sent my resignation email to the company.

Though it required Chloe's final approval, I didn't care. Since we were divorcing, I had nothing to hide.

With that out of the way, I called my older sister, Rachel, who was living abroad.

Hearing that I was finally willing to move to New York, she was thrilled and promised to handle all my immigration paperwork.

Actually, Chloe never knew that my parents split up when we were kids.

My dad took Rachel to the US, where he caught the Wall Street wave and became a financial tycoon.

I had stayed with my mom.

Three years ago, my mom fell ill. I begged every relative for money to pay her medical bills, but she didn't make it.

Before she passed, she held my hand, expressing her regret that she wouldn't see my wedding with Chloe.

She told me to take good care of Chloe and not to lose such a good girl.

But now, I couldn't keep that promise.

The next day, Rachel flew back to the country.

We hadn't seen each other in person since our parents' divorce, only keeping in touch via FaceTime over the last few years.

I took her to visit our mothers grave first, and then we went to a restaurant downtown for lunch.

Because she had cried so hard at the cemetery, Rachel looked pale and weak.

I held her arm to support her as we walked into the hotel restaurant. Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Ethan? What are you doing here?"

I turned around. Chloe and Julian were standing on the steps, holding hands.

Sensing my gaze, Chloe quickly yanked her hand away.

She glared at Rachel. Though she didn't speak, jealousy and suspicion practically rolled off her in waves.

Julian, however, walked up with a smirk.

"Hey, Ethan. What brings you here? And who is this lady? You two look pretty close."

"None of your business," I replied coldly.

I wasn't worried about them misunderstanding. I just didn't want to waste my breath on Julian.

Julian pretended not to notice my hostility. His smirk widened. "But isn't it work hours? Why are you out here? I don't recall seeing a leave request from you today."

Chloe stepped forward, her face dark with anger.

"Ethan, you're getting bolder, aren't you? Hooking up with another woman during work hours? Have you no shame?"

Shame?

I almost laughed.

She was openly parading her male model around, and she had the nerve to talk to me about shame?

Ever since she brought Julian into the office, people had been gossiping behind her back. No matter how hard others worked, they couldn't beat a pretty face.

Chloe even called Julian into her office during the day, drawing the blinds for hours while people watched their shadows whisper.

The once-professional office environment had turned into a joke.

Julian stepped in, pretending to play peacemaker.

"Chloe, don't be so harsh. Maybe Ethan is here to meet an investor? Hes probably doing it for the company."

Chloe sneered. "What kind of investment meeting happens at a hotel restaurant? He's probably doing something dirty! No wonder your department's sales have been so good lately, Ethan. You disgust me."

Hearing her insults, Rachel couldn't stay quiet any longer.

"Have you two said enough? Only those with dirty minds see dirt in everything."

She turned to me. "Ethan, let's go. Talking to people like this is a waste of our time."

Rachel pulled my arm toward the elevator, but Chloe panicked.

"Ethan! If you walk away with her today, we are divorcing!"

Her threat meant nothing to me. But since she brought it up, I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and handed them over.

"What is this?"

She stared at the document, refusing to touch it.

"Divorce papers. You wanted a divorce. Im giving you what you want."

Chloe's face went completely pale. Before she could speak, Julian's phone rang. He looked at it and gasped.

"Chloe! The hospital just called. My mom fell on the street. I have to go!"

Chloe immediately turned to him. "How is she? I'll go with you!"

Watching them rush out, I felt a wave of irony.

Three years ago, my mother was in critical condition after a car accidentan accident she got into while saving Chloe. Yet Chloe claimed her business trip was too important and didn't even show up for my mother's final moments.

My mother could have lived longer despite her heart condition, but she sacrificed her life for Chloe. Yet Chloe never even said thank you.

"Ethan?" Rachels voice snapped me back to reality.

I took a deep breath, composed myself, and took her up to the room.

As soon as we walked in, she asked, "I heard you got married. Was that woman your wife?"

My hand paused as I poured her a glass of water. I sighed.

"Yeah. But as you saw, I'm ending it."

I knew Chloe wouldn't sign the papers easily, so I had already handed all the evidence of her infidelity to my lawyer to start the court process.

The lawyer assured me that we would win easily.

Rachel didn't pry. She patted my shoulder. "Good. Clean up this mess before we move. You won't be coming back here anyway."

I nodded and asked about our dad.

The next day, I went with Rachel to finalize my immigration paperwork. As we walked out, her phone rang.

"I told you, I'm back for personal matters," she said into the phone, sounding annoyed. "Why did you leak my schedule?"

"Do I need to personally approve a project worth only a few million? Am I the boss, or are you?"

After she hung up, I handed her a bottle of water. "Problems with the company in New York?"

She rubbed her temples.

"No. Some local startup has been begging to partner with us. The owner somehow found out I was in town and is desperate to get a meeting."

"But you know how I work. In business, connections are fine, but character is what matters most."

I didn't ask further. I drove her to the best French restaurant in the city.

But of course, fate is a cruel joke. We ran into Chloe and Julian again.

They were wearing matching outfits, sitting by the window.

Chloe was on the phone, looking tense, while Julian fed her a cherry.

Chloe smiled and bit the cherry right out of his hand.

To anyone else, they looked like a deeply in love couple.

I pursed my lips and turned to leave, but Chloe spotted me.

She hung up immediately and ran over.

"Ethan, wait!"

I pretended not to hear her and quickened my pace.

But Chloe caught my arm. "Did you hear me calling you?"

Though she was talking to me, her eyes were fixed on Rachel.

"You two"

Before she could finish, Julian walked over, looking at us with a smug grin.

"Wow, Ethan. This 'business meeting' of yours is taking forever. I guess it was a bedroom meeting before, and now it's a lunch date."

I ignored his cheap insult, but Chloes face hardened. She looked at me coldly.

"Ethan, I know what you're doing. Do you think bringing her around will make me jealous? Are you five?"

"Even if the hotel was a coincidence, you can't tell me meeting us here is an accident. Julian and I are just having lunch. Can you stop being so pathetic and insecure?"

I laughed coldly.

Me? Pathetic?

"I already served you the divorce papers, Chloe. Do you really think I care enough to follow you around?"

Mentioning the divorce made her flinch.

"I tore those papers up. Don't bring them up again."

She turned her glare to Rachel. "And you, whoever you are. You heard him. Ethan is a married man. If you have any self-respect, stay away from him!"

Julian chimed in, sneering.

"Exactly. Clinging to another womans husband... didn't your parents teach you any manners?"

"Just because you have a little money doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

Rachel crossed her arms, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Watch your mouth. I can easily sue you for slander."

Julian, emboldened by Chloes presence, lost all restraint.

He stepped forward, raising his voice so the whole restaurant could hear.

"A homewrecker talking about lawsuits? How shameless can you get? If I don't teach you a lesson today, I'm not a man!"

With that, Julian rolled up his sleeves and shoved Rachels shoulder.

Chaos broke out.

I rushed forward to stop him, but at that exact moment, Chloe's phone buzzed with a message from her secretary.

It was a photo of the billionaire chairperson of the multinational conglomerate she had been trying to partner with.

The woman in the photo was the exact same woman Julian had just shoved to the ground.

Chloes eyes went wide. "Stop! She's Chairperson Miller!"